Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
141. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will engage with an organisation (details supplied) regarding concerns it has for future funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28620/23]
View answer142. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if his Department has considered the introduction of a flat-fee model of care being reimbursed at €6.50 per medicine; if his Department has costed this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28621/23]
View answer147. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Health when he will be reviewing pharmacy services and funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/23]
View answer155. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health when he intends to engage with representatives of community-based pharmacists (details supplied) in relation to ongoing concerns over a 15-year pharmacy pay freeze and its impact on patient care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28705/23]
View answer156. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health the progress made in reviewing pharmacy services and funding; the estimated date of completion of the review; if he will engage with pharmacy representatives ahead of a decision being made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28718/23]
View answer157. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with an organisation (details supplied) before 30 June to discuss the payments freeze on community pharmacies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28720/23]
View answer158. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Health if he can engage with an organisation (details supplied) on the review regarding fee restoration that is due by the end of June. [28731/23]
View answer159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with pharmacists to start fee-restoration talks before the statutory deadline of 30 June; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28733/23]
View answer164. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health concerning the review of fees that pharmacies receive from the State for the State drug payment schemes; if he is aware that the current fees agreement that pharmacies receive for the schemes, is due to be reviewed before the end of June 2023; if he will provide an update on the progress of the review; the reasons for the lack of engagement with an organisation (details supplied) thus far; what engagement has taken place between him, the HSE, and the organisation regarding this matter; if he will provide details on the Government's commitment to ensuring a fair and sustainable fee structure that supports the vital role of pharmacies in delivering healthcare services to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28771/23]
View answer169. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health to engage with a representative organisation (details supplied) in relation to pay for services provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28803/23]
View answer170. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the failure to increase pay rates for community pharmacists since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28804/23]
View answer173. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond and detail the measures that will be taken to ensure community pharmacists are supported into the future (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28814/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 142, 147, 155 to 159, inclusive, 164, 169, 170 and 173 together.
I recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the current pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020.
My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials will communicate with the Irish Pharmacy Union in that regard very shortly.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
